CONGRESSMAN BLACKBURN SURPRISES GRETCHEN WILSON    

(Nashville, Tennessee…) – September 24, 2009 – When Gretchen Wilson traveled to Washington, DC last week to accept a 2009 National Coalition for Literacy Leadership Award at a reception at the Library of Congress, she had more than one honor awaiting her. Following Gretchen’s touching acceptance speech, Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) was brought to the stage to deliver a statement she had prepared and read that morning in front of the 110th Congress honoring the accomplishments of Gretchen Wilson as a mother, recording artist and a leader in the advancement of adult education and literacy.

Congressman Blackburn presented Gretchen with two bound copies of the statement, one for her and one for her daughter Grace, the original words of which will forever be recorded in the Congressional Record.

Gretchen achieved her GED in 2008 and has since been an advocate to help spotlight the funding needs of adult education programs and the adults on waiting lists hoping to further their education. She spoke to a Congressional subcommittee earlier this spring about the need for continued funding. The award she received from the National Coalition for Literacy (NCL) and the Center for the Book recognizes individuals and/or organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to improving literacy and raising awareness of the adult literacy and English language learning needs in the United States.

Read Marsha Blackburn's Statemente Here.

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